Seeking to gain a high-tech edge over illegal fishers, the Government of Belize will use 鈥渆yes in the sky鈥� to enforce fishing regulations in the biodiverse Glover鈥檚 Reef Marine Reserve and other reef systems in what is the first use of conservation drones to monitor marine protected areas.

With technical assistance from the 菊花视频, the Belize Fisheries Department initiated a new monitoring program using unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e. conservation drones) to curtail unsustainable levels of illegal fishing. Besides coastal development, unregulated and unreported fishing are some of the largest threats to Belize鈥檚 fishing industry.

鈥淏elize has been a leader in the establishment of marine protected areas, including the world-famous Glover鈥檚 Reef Marine Reserve, but fishing regulations are difficult to enforce on the open sea,鈥� said Julio Maaz, Communities Fisheries Coordinator for WCS鈥檚 Marine Program in Belize. 鈥淒rones offer a means of improving the rate of detection of illegal activities at a fraction of the cost required for patrol vessels.鈥�